Detachable typewriter lamp



July 23, 1957 R. o; HUDSON DETACHABLE TYPEWRITER LAMP Filed Nov. 12,1953 INVENTOR. Russ/5L1. 0. Huasou ATTORNEY? DETACHABLE TYPEWRITER LAMPRussell 0. Hudson, San Francisco, Calif., assignor to William E. ColeII, Seattle, Wash;

Aim c t qn N mber 1 125 S a N 39 08 6 Claims. ((31.240-2) This inventionrelates to new and useful improvements in detachable lamps fortypewriters and copyholders and in conjunction with other equipmentwhere illumination is required. i

The present invention comprises a lamp which may be fastened to theoutwardly extending arms of the paper hail of a typewriter or to someother convenient location on a typewriter to illuminate the work beingtyped.

' One of the features of the invention is the fact that the device maybe readily attached and detached from the machine and is readilyadjustable to direct the illumination where it is most suitable.

Another feature of the invention is the fact that use of the lamp doesnot interfere with normal typing operations.

Still another feature of the invention is the excellent illuminationwhich is produced by use ofthe device.

Another feature of the invention is the means whereby the device. may beattached to the paper bail or the hail of the guide line of acopyhol-der;

Other objects of the present invention will become apparent upon readingthefollowing specification and referring to the accompanying drawings.in which similar characters of reference represent corresponding partsin each of the several views.

In the following description the device is described as installed on atypewriter paper bail.

In the drawings:

Fig. l is a perspective of the lamp and associated attaching mechanismand electrical connections.

Fig. 2 is a section taken through a typewriter platen showing the deviceinstalled and in use.

Fig. 3 is a vertical section through the lamp taken substantially alongthe line 3-3 of Fig. 2.

Fig. 4 is a section taken substantially along the line 44 of Fig. 2.

The present invention comprises a long thin light-weight fluorescentlighting tube 11 of a length approximately equal to the width of theplaten 12 of a conventional typewriter. Surrounding the tube 11 is aprotective tubular casing 13 of metal or other material which willprotect the tube against breakage and which is, preferably, opaque.Approximately one quarter of the circumference of the tubular casing iscut away to provide a window 14 through which the light of thefluorescent tube 11 may shine to illuminate the portion of the paper 16on the platen 12 which is being typed. The length of the window 14measured longitudinally of the casing 13, is approximately equal to thelength of the tube 11 and comprises the major portion of the length ofthe casing. Within the casing are sockets 17 at each end of the tube,which receive the contact points 18 projecting from the ends of the tube11. Lead wires 19 are connected to the contacts 18 and pass out throughslot 21 formed in each end of the casing. The wires 19 are sufiicientlylong enough to fit behind the typewriter carriage or otherwiseconveniently to be positioned so as to not interfere with operation ofthe typewriter. The wires 19 come 2,800,573 Patented July 23, 1957together in a conventional fluorescent light switch 22 from whichextends cord 23 which terminates in a conventional plug-in ballast 24which may be plugged into a conventional light-socket by means of prongs26.

The open ends of the tubular casing 13 are closed off at each end bycaps 31 extending from a flat end disk 33, the outer circumference ofwhich may be knurled to facilitate installation and removal of the capinside the end of the tubular casing. The tubular extension is serratedby inward extendingslots 34 to form prongs 36, the prongs 36 beingspringy and biased outward so as to retain the cap 31 inside the end ofthe casing 13. The tubular extension 32 is notched out as indicated byreference numeral 37 to permit wires 19 to extend out through slot 21.

' On each side of the casing is a bracket 41 which is used to attach thelight to a paper bail 42 or other convenient portion of a typewriter.The bracket 41 is preferably formed of two arms 43 and 44 which arepivotally held together by rivet 46 so that the angular position of thelight may be adjusted. The light-engaging arm 43 of the bracket isformed at its outer end in a curled portion 47 which curves around theoutside of the casing 13 and frictionally engages the same. The curvedportion 47 may be moved longitudinally of the casing, if required, toadjust the position of the casing relative to the platen, but the fit ofthe curved portion around the casing is tight enough so as to. eliminaterotation of the casing due to vibration. The curved portion is thentwisted as indicated by reference numeral 48,'and the inner end of thearm 43 is apertured for the reception of rivet 46 which joins thebail-engaging arm 43 of the bracket to the casing-engaging arm 44.

In Fig. 2 a conventional typewriter platen 12 and bail 42 having aroller 51 which keeps the paper 16 in contact with the. platen 12 isshown. The outward extending arm 52 of the bailiispivotally attached tothe carriage of the machine. In cross-section, arm 52 is usuallyrectangular. It will be understood that the bail arm 52 may thus beswung up pivotally to provide access to the platen 12 for erasures. andthe like.

The middle portion of the bail-engaging arm 44 of the bracket isprovided with a longitudinal slot 56 through which fits the shank ofscrew 57. The inner end of screw 57 engages clip portion 58, the clipportion being formed with a counter-sunk hole in which the head of thescrew 57 is recessed. A small rectangular spacer 59 is interposedbetween clip member 58 and arm 44, spacer 59 likewise being aperturedfor reception of screw 57. The lower edge of spacer 59 is flat andsquare and fits tightly against the top edge of arm 52. On the oppositeside of arm 44 is a channel-shaped piece 61, the sides 62 of whichprevent members 58 and 59 from turning, screw 57 likewise passingthrough the connecting member of channel 61. A knurled nut 63 on the endof screw 57 is used to tighten the parts together. The lower end of arm44 is bent outwardly and then inwardly in a hook 64. The lower end ofclip 58 is likewise formed in a hook 66 in the opposite direction fromhook. In use, the clip is positioned on the bail-arm 52 so that the hook64 on the end of the arm 44 fits under the edge of the bail arm. The:clip member 58 fits on the opposite side of the bailarm and thus whennut 63 is tightened the two members 64 and 66 function to grip thebail-arm 52. The spacer 59 fits against the upper edge of the bail-arm52 and thus prevents rocking of the bracket due to the vibration of thetypewriter.

In use, the lamp is originally installed by loosening nuts 63 andslipping a clip over each of the arms 52 of the typewriter bail, as hasbeen described, and then tightening the nuts 63 to hold the brackets inposition. The casing 13 is then swung down, rivets 46 acting as pivots,

until the proper illumination of the paper 16 on the platen 12 issecured. Switch 22 may be pressed to illuminate the light or extinguishthe same.

Although I have described my invention in some detail by way ofillustration and example for purposes of clarity of understanding, it isunderstood that certain changes and modifications may be practicedwithin the spirit of the invention and scope of the appended claims.

I claim:

1. In combination, an elongated tubular lamp, a casing surrounding saidlamp, said casing having a window extending longitudinally thereto thelength of said tube and having an arcuate width substantially less thanthe circumference of said casing, means for energizing said lamp,

and a pair of brackets for supporting said casing on the I paper bail ofa typewriter, each said bracket comprising a first arm, a second armarticulately connected to said first arm, said first arm being formedwith a curl on its end opposite said connection to second arm, said curlfitting around said casing and being slideable longitudinally over saidcasing, said curl fitting against said casing to restrain said casingagainst rotation, and means on the end of said second arm for engagingthe paper hail of said typewriter.

2. In combination, an elongated tubular lamp, a casing surrounding saidlamp, said casing having a window extending longitudinally thereto thelength of said lamp and having an arcuate width substantially less thanthecircumference of said casing, means for energizing said lamp, and apair of brackets for supporting said casing on the paper bail of thetypewriter, each said bracket comprising a first arm having means forengaging said casing,

a second arm articulately connected to said first arm, and means on theend of said second arm for engaging the paper pail of said typewriter,said means comprising a clip member and means for slideably connectingsaid clip member to said second arm, said clip member and the lower endof said second arm being shaped to engage the on the hail of a paperholder of said typewriter, each said bracket comprising a first armhaving means for engaging said casing, a second arm articulatelyconnected to said first arm, and means on the end of said second arm forengaging the paper bail of said typewriter, said means comprising alongitudinally extending slot formed in said second arm, a clip member,a screw and a nut, the shank of said screw passing through said slot insaid second arm, and through an aperture in said clip member, the lowerend of said clip member and the lower end of said second arm beingshaped to engage said paper bail and hold said bracket and said bailtogether.

4. The combination of claim 3 which further comprises a channel-shapedmember mounted on said second arm, the sides of said channel beingdisposed to restrain said clip member against rotation when said nut istightened.

5. The combination of claim 3 which further comprises a channel-shapedmember mounted on said second arm, the sides of said channel beingdisposed to restrain said clip member against rotation when said nut istightened, and a spacer member having an aperture through which saidscrew passes, said spacer being located between said clip member andsaid second arm, said spacer member having a flat bottom edge arrangedto fit against said bail and restrain said bracket against rocking.

6. In a typewriter, the combination of the platen, a paper bail, atubular lamp, said lamp being substantially coextensive with said platenand serving uniformly to illuminate the same, and a pair of pivotal lampmounting brackets, one securing one end of said lamp to one end of saidpaper bail and the other securing the other end of said lamp to theother end of said paper bail.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS1,236,269 Cole Aug. 7, 1917 1,326,650 Doerr Dec. 30, 1919 1,353,033Eberhart Sept. 14, 1920 1,764,071 Foulke June 17, 1930 1,886,027Klingsick Nov. 1, 1932 2,295,210 Gutensohn Sept. 8, 1942 FOREIGN PATENTS771,545 France Oct. 10, 1934

